Airlines to give fares by route in advance

NEW DELHI: In a move that will empower passengers to make informed choices but could spell an end to 'dynamic pricing' by airlines, Indian carriers have agreed to put on their websites by 5pm, Wednesday, the price range for each class (business and economy) of each route operated by them. This range would be valid for the rest of December.

In case of any sudden jump to the highest fare level, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will be able to check if the spurt is due to seats at lower price levels having been sold out or whether it is manipulation by the travel industry.

Airlines will also start giving passengers information on what fares would be 21, 14 and seven days before the date of departure, going right up to spot prices.

For advance bookings beyond the month in question, airlines will continue offering fares as they do now depending on time of day and convenience. TOI had first reported on the issue of fare hike on November 16.

From next year, this information would be put on websites on the first of every month and remain valid for those 30-31 days unless the airline chooses to revise fares and intimates the same to passengers. Since the new system is being put in place in the face of severe airline opposition, it will start from this Wednesday for December and not the first of this month.

Airlines had no option but to fall in line as this action was initiated by former DGCA chief Nasim Zaidi, who on December 1 became aviation secretary, and made it clear to them that transparency for public good is not negotiable.

"We just want everything to be made public, including giving DGCA the parameters of number of seats getting sold and fare moving to next higher level. In case of any sudden jump, we will be able to check if lower bucket fare seats have been sold and then spot fares are at the highs or is it something else," DGCA chief E K Bharat Bhushan said.